title: Alpha-MSH peptides inhibit acute inflammation and contact sensitivity.
abstract: Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone [alpha-MSH(1-13)] occurs within the CNS, skin, circulation and in other body sites. This tridecapeptide and its COOH-terminal tripeptide, alpha-MSH (11-13), have antipyretic and anti-inflammatory actions. Studies of the anti-inflammatory effects of these molecules have been confined mainly to tests of inhibition of histamine and endogenous pyrogen-induced increases in capillary permeability in rabbits and acute inflammation of ear tissue in mice. The aim in the present experiments was to learn if alpha-MSH peptides also antagonize inflammation in two additional models: acute edema induced in the mouse paw and contact sensitivity. Significant anti-inflammatory effects were observed with MSH peptides in both models. These findings converge with previous results to indicate that alpha-MSH peptides modulate inflammation. Because circulating alpha-MSH increases after treatment of animals with endogenous pyrogen or endotoxin, administration of the peptides may simply mimic a naturally occurring modulation of host defense reactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas 75235-9040.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hiltz
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lipton
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene; D004487:Edema / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000517:prevention & control; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; C067236:N-acetyllysyl-prolyl-valinamide; C043156:MSH (11-13); D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene